IAN DOWN UNDER VS METASTATIC

Ian cracks open Derek Thomas’s Metastatic and learns the cancer center is the last place you want to be when the dead get hungry.

TITLE: Metastatic

AUTHOR: Derek Thomas

GENRE: Horror

PAGES: 124

FORMAT: eBook

PRICE: eBook $4.99, Paperback $9.99

G’day all, it’s your ARC reader here from downunder, fresh from a weekend that was meant to be full of boat racing but ended up flooded out. Yes, that’s right, it was too wet for boat racing. Anyway, I did take the opportunity to catch up on some reading, and as a result, this week we’re diving into Derek Thomas’s book, Metastatic. Let’s get stuck into it, shall we?

The story follows several POVs of the men and women stuck in a cancer treatment centre when a zombie outbreak of sorts occurs. It starts off with four cancer patients, Davis, Sam, Martin, and Larry, who arrive at the centre and await their treatment. After the introduction to each, we follow one POV in particular: Davis, who is starting his treatment when suddenly the clinic goes dark and screams echo down the hall. He’s helped out of the machine by a fellow cancer patient and a nurse, Jessica, and together, they make it out to find a veritable massacre. Body parts, blood and guts galore are spread everywhere, and the staff are having a feast on anyone they can find.

The trio meet up with more survivors, including the two other cancer patients, and together they try to make it out of the centre in one piece. I won’t spoil what happens, as it’s a great book and I’d prefer you to read it for yourselves, but there are several twists and turns that make this book stand out far more than your average zombie book.

Derek’s writing is addicting, fast-paced and easy to read, making this perfect for finishing in one sitting. The characters involved, especially the four cancer patients, are fleshed out well, and you genuinely want them all to make it because of it. This is the type of short book that doesn’t feel short at all.

Derek draws on his own past in battling cancer, which is why the thoughts and feelings of the cancer patients are so authentic. And let’s face it, cancer is scary enough, but when you add zombies to the mix and some strange, unexplainable happenings, then you get pure nightmare fuel.

Despite its dark subject matter, Derek has created a super fun take on the zombie book that deserves to claim a spot on everyone’s TBR. An easy recommendation.

I give it 4.9 zombie infestations out of 5.

Ian Gielen is a writer of all things spooky and a horror fanatic. Ian embraces his inner geek with pride, his dedication on display in the intimidating collection of horror novels and video games that threaten to take over his living space. He is mad for all things Alien, Star Wars, and cats; his furry companions are always there to keep him company as he scribbles down his latest ideas. With the sheer number of furry and human companions in his life, it’s a wonder he isn’t a little crazier than he already is.

PLEASE NOTE: The views and opinions of the staff of Memento Mori Ink do not necessarily represent those of Memento Mori Ink or Crystal Lake Publishing, nor do the views or opinions of Crystal Lake necessarily represent those of Memento Mori Ink or its staff. Thank you for understanding.